MP Laments Delay in Issuing Travel Documents
By William Maduok
A lawmaker in the national parliament expressed concern over the delay in issuing travel documents.
Legislator Ahmed Mohammed Musa, who represents Western Bahr el Ghazal, stated that individuals who are ill and students on scholarships are unable to travel due to the current inactivity of the Immigration department.
“Now, not only is immigration closed to address issues of nationality, but our people from 10 states and three administrative areas – who are in Juba seeking passports for medical treatment – are facing delays,” Musa mentioned.
“The Speaker, a solution must be found to ensure this critical service does not come to a halt,” he emphasized.
Musa highlighted that individuals suffering from kidney and heart diseases are unable to seek treatment abroad due to passport-related obstacles.
MP Musa proposed that the House summon the Minister of Interior, Minister of Finance, and Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority to address concerns regarding passport issuance.
“I suggest that the Minister of Interior, Commissioner of NRA, and Finance Minister be summoned collectively to provide clarity on the challenges affecting this service,” he recommended.
In response, the First Deputy Speaker, Oyet Nathaniel Pierieno, advised the lawmaker to formally document the motion for further deliberation and eventual summoning of the responsible authorities.
“This issue has been raised by members of the public and parliamentarians when trying to obtain their passports. As a nation, this is a fundamental aspect of citizenship,” Oyet acknowledged.
“While we may compromise on other matters, our identity is non-negotiable. We must ensure that passport production and issuance are accessible not only in Juba but also in other locations and embassies worldwide,” he concluded.
